Narrative:

A misunderstanding between a PF and a PNF about a crossing restriction distance from a VOR. PF understood crossing distance was at 40 mi before a VOR and altitude to be FL240, while PNF understood ATC clearance distance to be 50 mi before. Approaching the 50 mi distance point, the PF was distracted by a passenger on the jump seat and at 47 mi before the VOR, center (ATC) asked our altitude. We acknowledged FL255 descending to FL240, which they acknowledged but made no further comment. PNF commented about missing the crossing restriction. PF stated he misunderstood the crossing restriction to be 40 before the VOR and had 7 mi to go. PNF stated he understood the crossing distance to be 50 mi. No deviations were required and center never commented about a conflict. WX was VMC. PNF was a one-time use contract pilot on his first flight with the company. Better crew situational awareness when approaching a crossing restriction could have prevented this, especially when one crew member should have noticed non compliance with what he understood as a crossing clearance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF AN LTT CPR ACFT UNDERSHOT DSCNT ALT DUE TO A MISUNDERSTANDING OF A XING RESTRICTION DISTANCE.

Narrative: A MISUNDERSTANDING BTWN A PF AND A PNF ABOUT A XING RESTRICTION DISTANCE FROM A VOR. PF UNDERSTOOD XING DISTANCE WAS AT 40 MI BEFORE A VOR AND ALT TO BE FL240, WHILE PNF UNDERSTOOD ATC CLRNC DISTANCE TO BE 50 MI BEFORE. APCHING THE 50 MI DISTANCE POINT, THE PF WAS DISTRACTED BY A PAX ON THE JUMP SEAT AND AT 47 MI BEFORE THE VOR, CTR (ATC) ASKED OUR ALT. WE ACKNOWLEDGED FL255 DSNDING TO FL240, WHICH THEY ACKNOWLEDGED BUT MADE NO FURTHER COMMENT. PNF COMMENTED ABOUT MISSING THE XING RESTRICTION. PF STATED HE MISUNDERSTOOD THE XING RESTRICTION TO BE 40 BEFORE THE VOR AND HAD 7 MI TO GO. PNF STATED HE UNDERSTOOD THE XING DISTANCE TO BE 50 MI. NO DEVS WERE REQUIRED AND CTR NEVER COMMENTED ABOUT A CONFLICT. WX WAS VMC. PNF WAS A ONE-TIME USE CONTRACT PLT ON HIS FIRST FLT WITH THE COMPANY. BETTER CREW SITUATIONAL AWARENESS WHEN APCHING A XING RESTRICTION COULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS, ESPECIALLY WHEN ONE CREW MEMBER SHOULD HAVE NOTICED NON COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT HE UNDERSTOOD AS A XING CLRNC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.